The Homework Table › App tips

How to take a homework photo the app can read every time

By M. Mohd · October 13, 2026

A clear photo is the single biggest thing you control when an app checks homework. Most misread answers come from shadows, tilted pages, or a cut-off edge, not from the checking itself. These tips take a few seconds and save a re-scan.

1. Lay the page flat

Put the worksheet on a table, not in your child's hands or on a lap. If the page is curled from a folder, press it flat or hold the corners down with something heavy.

2. Get good, even light

• Daylight from a window is best.
• At night, use a lamp off to the side rather than a single overhead light, which tends to throw your phone's shadow onto the page.
• Avoid glossy reflections, especially on laminated or shiny pages.

3. Hold the phone straight above the page

Hold your phone directly over the worksheet, parallel to the table. A tilted shot makes the bottom of the page smaller and harder to read.

4. Fit the whole page in the frame

• Keep a little table showing around all four edges, so nothing gets cut off.
• Photograph one page at a time. Two pages in one shot means smaller text.
• If a problem uses a ruler, diagram, or picture, make sure the whole thing is in the shot.

5. Help the camera focus

• Tap the middle of the page on your screen to focus before you take the photo.
• Hold still for a second, and wipe the camera lens if photos look hazy.

6. Think about what's on the page

• Dark pencil or pen reads better than very light pencil.
• If your child erased heavily, make sure the final answer is the darkest mark.
• For privacy, you can fold over or cover your child's name and school before taking the photo. The app doesn't need them to check the work.

Quick checklist